archer



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. B. ARCHER.

LETTER BOX.

Patented Mar; 13, 1888.

INVEN TQR ATTORNEY NY PEKERS. Phalo-Lilbognpher. Washingtbn, D c.

NITED STATES LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379,302, dated. B/Iarch 13, 1888.

Application filed September 2, 1886. Serial No. 212,494. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. ARCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lettor-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to letter-boxes, and has for its object to provide separate compartments therein for papers and letters, together with independent slotted openings for said compartments.

It also has for its object to effect the transfer of the papers from the upper compartment into the lower or letter compartment simulta neously with opening the door of the box, whereby the removal of the contents of the said box is facilitated.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my letterbox, and Fig. 2 is an end view thereof. Fig. 3 is a central transverse vertical section, and Fig. 4 is horizontal section, of the same. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a modified form of my letter-box, and Fig. 6 is a central transverse vertical section thereof. I

A represents a letter-box constructed of any suitable material and of any desired shape, preferably, however, of iron, with a rectangular body having a semicircular top, and provided with an open space, a, in the frame thereof upon one side, which may extend from slightly below the center to the bottom of the box and from end to end. This open space a is adapted to be inclosed by means of a door, B, properly hinged at one end to the casing and provided with a suitable lock, 6. The door B is usually made to extend upward a distance above the space a to be inclosed thereby and overlap the casing, which at this point is furnished with a hood, D, adapted to project at an angle therefrom downward, for the purpose of protecting the joint formed by the engagement of the door with the box-casing from the iuclemeucy of the weather. The said hood D may be made to extend across the ends of the box and form a protection, also, for the lower slotted opening, E, through which the letters are dropped, which opening is also protected by the usual hinged cover, 0.

The door B, near the top thereof, is provided with an integral horizontal plate, I), having one end, 6-, slightly cut away toward the rear, adapted, when the door is closed, to extend transversely within the box from side to side and end to end,with the exception of a slight space in one corner, caused by reason of the said cutaway portion If. The object of this plate B is to form a removable partition within the box A, whereby the same is divided into two compartments, F F, the upper compartment, F, for papers and the lower compartment, F, for letters. The papers are inserted into the upper compartment, F, through a large slotted opening, f, made for the purpose at the end of the box,within the upper semicircular portion thereof, and in addition to the usual hinged cover, f, a downwardly and inwardly projecting toothed plate, f is secured within said opening at the lower edge, which plate effectually prevents the withdrawal of papers or packages dropped therein, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

The lower or letter compartment, F, is usually provided with a detachable box, H, made of a convenient size to fit therein,which box H is adapted to receive the letters dropped through the lower opening, E.

When it is desired to remove the contents of the box, the door B is unlocked, and as the said door is opened the integral horizontal plate Z1 is withdrawn from within the box, a1- lowing the papers to fall from above into the receptacle H, the said receptacle, now containing both the letters and papers, is removed from the box and its contents transferred to any desired object or convenient receiver.

The receptacle H may be fitted to run in transverse ways within the bottom of the box, or be hinged therein to extend at an angle from said box when withdrawn, as in the ordinary letter-box now used, if so desired, instead of resting loosely within the box, as shown.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I show a modified form of my letter-box, which consists in extending the they are caused to drop to the bottom of the box on top of the letters, when they are readily removed togetherand quickly separated again afterward, if necessary.

A great advantage is bad in my form of box over those now in general use, inasmuch as ample provision is made for the receipt of small packages and large bundles of papers, obviating the now necessary practice of placing such bundles and packages on top of theletter-box, whereby many valuable documents and articles thus placed are either stolen or lost.

Another great advantage consists in the utter impossibility of any person abstracting letters from the lower compartment of the box, even should they succeed in effecting an entrance through the guarded enlarged opening of the upper compartment, as the horizontal dividing-plate b forms an effectual barrier between the upper and lower compartments unless withdrawn in the proper mannernamely, by unlocking and opening the door B.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A letter-box divided into an upper compartment for papers and a lower compartment for letters by a detachable horizontal plate, whereby the said compartments are united by the withdrawal of said plate, together with independent slotted openings for said compartments, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A letter-box divided into an upper oompartment for papers and a lower compartment for letters, each provided with a separate slotted opening by a detachable horizontal plate made integral with the hinged door ofsaid box, whereby the two compartments are united simultaneously upon opening the door, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. A letter-box divided into an upper com partment for papers and a lower compartment for letters, each provided with a separate slotted opening by a detachable horizontal plate integral with the door of said box, and provided with a detachable receptacle in the lower compartment thereof to receiveletters, whereby upon opening the door the two compartments are united and the papers dropped in said receptacle with the letters, substantially as herein shown and described.

4. The combination, with a box adapted to receive letters and papers, having independent openingsf and E in the ends thereof, and a central hood, D, of the hinged door B, provided with an integral horizontal plate, I), hav ing a cutaway portion, 1)", together with the removable letterreceptacle H, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose herein set forth.

JOHN B. ARCHER.

Vitnesses:

CARROLL SPRIGG, JNo. P. LAIR. 

